Pygmy Paris - Lux Tube radio

I am offering this extraordinary Pygmy Lux tube radio at auction, produced in 1953 by Pygmy (Ciate-Pygmy / SCIP / CIATE) of Paris.

This is a top-of-the-line model, among the most refined and sought-after French radios of the 1950s ever produced, with an undeniably captivating design.

Its extremely luxurious and exclusive styling gives the cabinet a shape that unmistakably evokes a lyre; the plexiglass front is embellished at its center with a refined gilded ornament depicting the Three Graces dancing before a stylized lyre.

Unlike the common radios of the period, made of wood or dark Bakelite, this model has a cabinet molded from ivory-colored Pollopas.
Pollopas is a thermosetting urea-formaldehyde resin originally developed in the 1920s, which remained a high-end alternative for producing fine objects in the postwar period. Its formula made it possible to achieve a warm color and slight translucency that, in this case, imitates the texture of natural ivory.

Six tubes, four wavebands (PO-GO-OC-BE). Tone and volume controls, waveband selector and tuning dial, small built-in ferrite antenna adjustable by means of a side knob.

The cabinet is in good overall cosmetic condition, glossy and well preserved, with the usual signs of age.
Some stress lines are present around the bulbs illuminating the tuning scale. This is a typical and entirely natural feature of this material, caused by the temperature fluctuations generated by the heat from the bulbs over the decades.

As shown in the close-up photos, the gilded Three Graces ornament is perfectly intact,
THE REAR PANEL IS MISSING.

The receiver comes from a collector who had it technically serviced: during testing, using a cable connected to the antenna socket, after sunset—and under favorable propagation conditions—it was possible to receive some broadcasts on the OC, BE and PO bands from countries where transmissions on these frequencies are still active.

Important notes

Radio offered at auction exclusively as a collector’s item for display.

As the rear panel is missing, connecting the radio to the mains is entirely at the buyer’s own risk.

Shipping with suitable packaging and insurance

Dimensions 32x22x18